Lyssin. The nosode of rabies. Trituration of sugar of milk saturated with the saliva of a rabid dog. Triturations might also be made of Pasteur’s strongest virus.
Clinical
Bubo. Clairvoyance. Convulsions. Corns, pains in. Diarrhoea. Dysentery. Fever. Hair, oiliness of. Headache. Hydrophobia. Hypersensitiveness. Landry’s paralysis. Leucorrhoea. Lyssophobia. Mania. Nervousness. Neuralgia. Oesophagus, stricture of. Paralysis. Pregnancy, convulsions of, toothache of. Respiratory paralysis. Salivations. Satyriasis. Sciatica. Sunstroke. Tetanus. Ulcers. Uterus, prolapse of. Vaginismus. Wounds, too rapid healing of.
Characteristics
Hering was the first (1833) to prove, and to suggest the employment of this nosode in medicine, and of late years it has become notorious through the experiments of Pasteur. Pasteur’s method of administration is very different from that employed by homoeopaths, but he is working on homoeopathic lines in seeking to neutralize a virus in the system by introducing a modification of the same virus. His experiments led him to produce the rabic poison in a highly intensified form in the spinal cords of rabbits. He then modified its intensity in different degrees by exposure to air for a longer or shorter period. Patients who come to the Institute are inoculated first with the least potent, and later with the most potent “vaccine,” after which they are pronounced “cured.” The “cure” is, however, extremely uncertain, as the degree of susceptibility to the poison is unknown in any case, and many hundreds of the patients subjected to the inoculations have died of the disease. Pasteur’s first method was admitted to be too strong, and was soon modified, a number of patients having died from the inoculations. One of these cases I investigated, and the symptoms were sufficiently striking to deserve recording. The patient was Arthur Wilde, of Rotherham, aged 29, and I received the account from his mother, who nursed him through his illness. He had been bitten severely by a man suffering from hydrophobia, and was persuaded, much against his wish, to go to Pasteur. This he did a few days after the bite, returning on October 19, 1886, after undergoing the course. On Saturday, October 30, he complained of a pricking sensation below the ribs in the right side, in the part where the injections had been made. Pressure relieved, the pain somewhat. That evening the vomited, and the vomiting continued, and he became very prostrate. On Monday the prostration was intense, vomiting continued, restless, skin cool, perspiring, quite conscious. The spots where the inoculations were made were dark and livid. Twitching occurred every few hours, sometimes more violently than others, most marked on the abdomen. From Monday through Tuesday he was making a peculiar loud noise, something like a waggoner driving horses, “bis” “whoo,” though he had never had to do with horses. He seemed completely helpless. On Tuesday night vomiting ceased and he began to froth a great deal. Early on Wednesday morning he began to talk thick. His breathing, which had been peculiar all through _ he would hold his breath for a long time when making the noise and then breathe rapidly for a few breaths _ Became very bad at 3 a.m. on Wednesday. He died shortly after 12, having been apparently conscious to the end though unable to speak for the last hour. The frothing and increased up to the time of his death and he seemed to choke with it. This case was paralleled by that of Goffi, and attendant at St. Thomas’ Hospital, who was bitten by a cat and sent to Pasteur. On his return he was taken ill, and his case was at first diagnosed as Landry’s paralysis, but finally proved (by experiments made with his spinal cord) to be “paralytic rabies,” the result of inoculation. It was after the occurrence of these and similar accidents” that the intensity of the “vaccins” was reduced. It would be well to have as an alternative preparation, *Hydrophobinum *Pasteurianum, obtained from Pasteur’s vaccine, to meet conditions similar to these. The pathogenesis of *Hydroph. is made up partly of symptoms observed in rabid animals and human patients, but chiefly of symptoms developed in the provings. The remedy has been pretty extensively used in practice, not only in cases of hydrophobia, but in many disorders in which the keynote symptoms have been present. These are: Exquisite sensitiveness to breath of air, to bright objects, especially the surface of water, to sounds, and most of all to the sound of running water. Even the *thought of it is enough to bring on an aggravation or a convulsion. Cases of dysentery with pain and tenesmus on hearing water running from a tap have been cured with *Hydrob. Cannot bear heat of sun. Thirst, with inability to swallow. Copious viscid saliva. A great variety of mental disturbances occur. Rapid speech and impatience are very noticeable. The mental irritability is as great as that of the senses and dangerously violent temper is developed. The irritation is further shown in the sexual organs. Suffocating feelings were experienced by several persons. Sighing, and sighing respiration. The effects of bites of non-rabid dogs have been removed by this nosode. *Hydrob. is a close analogue of many of the animal poisons. especially *Laches., and I have no doubt when clinically developed it will prove to be equally important. Marked symptoms appear in every part of the body and mind. Many symptoms are worse by stooping, by motion generally. Sensitive to any changed position. Bending head backward better pain in neck. Throws head back when sneezing. Head of sun worse, it is unbearable. Hot steam directed to bitten place better burning pain in it. better Turkish bath. Damp warm air oppressed him. Sensitive to least
breath of air, air of agreeable temperature feels cold. Slightest draught worse. Cold air better headache. worse From slightest touch, from riding in carriage. (In the Schema, the symptoms observed in cases of the disease are marked (R), those observed in Pasteur cases (P), the rest are the symptoms of the provings with some clinical additions.).
Relations
The remedies most closely related to Hydrob. are those which have cured cases of the disease Belladonna, Stramonium, Hy., Fagus, Agave- Laches, Cantharis, and the animal poisons generally. Lachesis is a very close ally ( worse from sun, bluish discoloration of wounds, irritability, worse warm, damp air, from touch and pressure, though the late evolution of the symptoms of Hydrophobinum contrasts with the lightning-like rapidity of snake-venom effects). *Compare also: in ascending paralysis, Gelsemium, Conium, in respiratory paralysis, Solania, Belladonna, Dulcamara, in sexual excitement, Cantharis, Pic-ac., Graphites, in intolerance of sun, Gelsemium, Gloninum, Nat., Lachesis, Apis, in effects of carriage-riding, Coccul., desire to urinate on seeing running water, Cantharis, Sul., convulsions from dazzling light, Stramonium, consciousness of womb, Helonias, viscid saliva, Epipheg., Hydras., hurried speech, Hy., in coldness, Helod. It *follows well: Tabac. (headache), Arg-n. (uterine disease), Stramonium (neuralgia). Is *followed well by: Nat-
m.
Causation
Dog-bites.
SYMPTOMS.
Mind
Loss of consciousness sometimes at an early stage, but not generally until a short time before death (R.). Does not hear or see persons around him (R.). Memory for single words much improved. Thoughts of something terrible going to happen come into his mind against his will, feels impelled to do reckless things, such as throwing a child, which he carried in his arms, through the window. They appreciate the formidable character of the disease and speak frequently with a remarkably quick and sharp articulation of the impending fatal results (R.). During the tranquil intervals, responded correctly to questions put to him, recognized those around him, and with a presentiment of impending death, begged them to pray for him and not leave him alone (R.). Most commonly the mental faculties are in the superior state of excitement, shown by quick perception, amazing acuteness of understanding and rapidity with which they answer questions (R.). It seems to her as if two entirely different trains of thought influenced her at the same time. During convulsions, mental illusions and hallucinations, in intervals of consciousness mental faculties are retained (R.). Imagine that they are abused, and energetically defend themselves against attacks and insults, which in reality are products of their own fancy (R.) Fancies he is blown at by several persons, some of whom are not present (R.). Thinks he is a dog or a bird, and runs up and down, chirping and twittering, until he falls down fainting (R.). Strange notions and apprehensions during pregnancy. Insane ideas enter his head, for instance, to throw a
glass of water, which he is carrying in his hand, into some one’s face, or to stab his flesh with the knife he is holding, and the like. (Mania spermatica in stallions.) Inclination to be rude and abusive, to bite and strike. A strong and uncontrollable impulse to do certain acts, to spring at and bite any moving object that came within reach, dog (R.). Lament with great anxiety their inability to relieve thirst which afflicts, and by various contrivances endeavor eagerly to drink (R.). Break out of their stables furiously and run or jump over ditches and fences (Sheep). Not afraid of dogs, but dislikes to see them because their sight renews her fear (Lyssophobia, after bite by non-rabid dog). Exhilarated, felt as if he had received joyful intelligence. Ill-humor. Hypersensitiveness of all the senses. On a watch held to scrobiculum he sees the hour and minute hands (R.). He says he can see hands on dial plate of church clock (R.). He could hear what was spoken in next room, and counted coppers in a room below him (R.). Linen dipped in sugar water, put on pit of stomach, gives a sweet taste in mouth (R.). Copper, if in his room, makes him restless and full of pains (R.). Sometimes he would control inclination to stool by a strong effort of will, but effort cause much nervous irritation. Attacks of nervous headache become awful and insupportable if he hears water run out of a hydrant. When he hears water poured out, or if he hear it run, or if he sees it, he become very irritable, nervous, it causes desire for stool and other ailments. The mere sight of a drinking vessel containing water is intolerable, they turn away their faces, shriek out loud, beckon anxiously with hands to have water removed, for voice and breath fail (R.). Thinking of fluids of any kind, even of blood, brings on convulsions.
